Condensing apparatus



March 5, 1929. c. E. LUCKE CONDENSING APPARATUS 2 Sneaks-Sheet Filed Aug. 5; 1925 'March 5, 1929. c. E. LUCKE CONDENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5, 1925 2 sheets -sheet Patented Mar. 5', 1929.

UNITED sra res rarasrarrics;

art san. 1

CHARLES E. LUCKE, or nnw' YORK, n11, Assrenon 'ro woRrnrneron Pam AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, or new YORK, n. A ooRroRArion-or VIRGINIA.

'oonnnnsiue' ArraRArns.

Application filed August 5, 1925. SeriaI No. 48,241.

This invention relates to steam condensers of the surface type, the especial object of the invention being to provide. a construction of high vacuum, surface condenser adapted especially for large sizes, in which each of the condenser tubes shall contribute the maximum area possible tOZtCtlVBCOIldQIlSfltlOIl of steam and thus reduce to a'minimum the total tube "surface re'quireol for a given rate of steam per hour.

In carrying out the invention, I aim especially to minimize the pressure drop between the tubes in the steam and air zones by a short path and by causing the steam to sweep all the tube surfaces substantially equally, so as to prevent anysluggish flow in any region, and to equalize the pressure drop across the steam flow paths between the tubes throughout the condenser by making these steam paths substantially equalin flow resistance. I aim,also, to present to the incoming steam a large percentage of the total condenser tubes so as to secure the maximum of condensing activity andto make this percentage of tubes presented'to the incoming steam substantially constant and independent of the size of the condenser. I Inattaining-these specific objects, the condenser tubes are disposed in the form of a belt through which the steam passes from one side to the other, the flow resistance through this belt being uniform so that the steam'will not pass through portions ofthe belt more freely than through other portions. The tubes in the belt may be uniform in number and spacing of tubes from the entrance side to the exit side, or the tubes may be spaced more closelyon the 1 exit side, it being necessary only that the flow resistance from the inlet to the outlet side should be the same throughout the length of the belt. Other means, however, may be employed for'securing theuniform resistance to flow across the belt that is important for secur ing the result of uniform flow and maximum condensation from each of the tubes. .This "desired result of uniform flow and maximum secured bya thinner belt of tubes closely spaced or a thicker belt of tubes more widely spaced. The belt' will preferably be formed in folds or convolutions to provide large tube area within a certain condenser dimension with free admission of steam to a large percentage of the tube surface, andthese folds or convolutions may be of any suitable shape and adapted to a shell of anydesired form. The Q folds or convolutions will be'so arranged as to provide equal access of steam to all the tubes of the outer row onv the steam side of the-beltand so as to provide equal freedom of escape of air from all the tubes on theoutlet or air sidefof" the belt. It is preferable that all steam flow areas should be proportioned to the-number of tubes supplied by steam from any particular section of the steam flow passage, so that the steam velocity will be the same in entering the tube belt and likewise the air spaces be-,

" tween the tubev folds willpreferably be Widest at the exit end of the air passage, which aids in securing a compact construction and reduc ing the total size of the condenser.

In accordance with the present invention, the general features described above are arranged in such a manner that the steam is admitted on substantially all sides of the tube bank formed by the belt and the air taken off from the inside of the tube bank, thus securing the maximum condensing action of the tubes and providing for the maximum efi'ective tube surface withingiven dimensions. This arrangement provides also for free access, of, exhaust steamto the falling. condensate and hot-well and prevents the air separated out by condensation from coming into contact with the condensate falling from the tube bank and withthe hot-well water, thus delivering the condensate at a temperature as near the temperature of the exhaust steam as possible and preventingthepartial air pressure in the hot-well being increased and thetemperature of the condensate thus.

lowered by contact ofisuch air. The broader features of the'invention maybe embodied in constructions not employing an air cooler within the condensenbut. preferably'I arrange the tube bank so as to provide for an air cooler within the tube bank through which the-air is drawn'from the outlet side to the air. outlet.

. For a full understanding of the invention,

there are shown inthe accompanying drawcondensation from each of the tubes may be "will. now be described in detail and the features forming the invention then be speci- .fically" pointed out 'in the claimsL. Tn'the' -drawings s Figure 1 1s a diagrammatic cross-sectional 'view showing a simple form of condenserembodying the broader features of the invention 7 without the air cooler within the tube bank; 7 Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 show modified forms of the same general character as shown in Fig. 1; and

Figures 8, 9 and 10 show modifications in- V eluding an air cooler within the tube bank.

- denser shell, B the steam inlet, C the hot-well,

Referring to the drawings, A is the conand' a the air offtakes, two being shown, for

I which the arrangement shown in Fig. 1' is well adapted. Itwill be understood, however, that a single air offtake may be used, or more than vtwoair offtakes in large condensers, if do structions hereafter described. takes preferably are pipes extending through the air chamber and perforated or slotted to sired, and the same applies to the other con- These offreeeive air throughout their length, and connected outside the condenser casing to the usual air ejector or vacuum pump of any form. The tube belt I), as shown in Fig. 1,

is a shallow continuous bank of tubes, shown as of uniform depth, in which case the spacing of the tubes will be uniform throughout the belt. The tube beltis formed in several folds or convolutions, the'steam inlet spaces 10 being preferably of decreasing width within the folds, according tothe extent of the tube belt to be supplied with steam by the different sections of the inlet passage, thus 7 V securing a more compact construction and enclose the air outlets (rand the tube bank" aiding in securing a uniform flow throughthe belt, and the air passages 11 on the opposite sides of the belt from the steam spaces will preferably expand, increasing in size toward the outlet, for free flow of air, with compactness of construction.

spaces should be such as to secure the prompt and free flow of air from the outletside of the tube belt. 7 Y

It is not necessary that the number and spacing of the tubes should be uniform from inlet to outlet side of the belt, and in some cases it may be desirable to place the tubes nearer each other on the outlet side or to gradually decrease the tube spacing from the inlet to the outlet side, or otherwise provide for less freeflow on the outlet side than on the inlet side of the belt. The dccrease in tube spacing toward the outlet side allows for the steam condensed nearer the inlet side and the maximum condensation from each tube is thus secured with a large tube surface in the; least condenser dimenslons or with a reduc-' tion in condenser size.

The tube belt is-formed so as to entirely formedthereby is separated from the casing A on all sides, so as to form a steam space 12 entirely surrounding "the tube bank, so that the steam has access to all the tubes in the outer layer of the tube bank and to. the falling condensate in the lower part'of the con It will be understood, however,that it is necessary only that the air denserand the hot-well, the steam spaces 12 on opposite sides of the tube bank avoiding dead ends and securing the free circulation of steam through the lower partof the condenser and over the hot-well. i r

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4: the tube banks are of "the same character as shown in Fig. 1, the

specific form of the tube folds and, the arrangement of the air ofltakes being varied for directly-to the'bottom of the condenser and hot-well, as well as through the side passages or spaces 12 around the tub e'banks, p I

In Fig. 6 .a bowl-shaped condenser is shown, with a plurality of tube banks each formed by a separate belt, these tube banks being semicircular and nested together with steam spaces 10 between them for the admission of exhaust steam 'and'with the air passages between the'folds ofeach bank opening to separate air oflltakes.

In Fig. 7 a rectangular condenser casing is shownv with the tube belt formed to. provide a bank at each side of the condenser, but the belt being continuous so as to close the central steam space to the hot-well and each bank I being provided with one or more air ofi-,

takes a. a 1

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 thereare shown tube banks of the same generalcharacter as those shown in the other figures and previously described, except thatthe belt folds are formed so as to leave a central spacewithin the tube bank in which is'contained an air cooler 14' covered by a plate 15 which shields theair cooler from the condensate and directs the air around the bottom edges of the plate to the lower part .of the air cooler, through which the air passes upward to the air ofi'takea.

Other forms of air cooler and cover plates may be used, the essential feature ofthis specific part of the invention being that the air cooler shall be within the tube bank.

It will .be understood that the invention may be embodied in many'other constructions differing in form and arrangement from those shown, and thatthe invention is not to be limited to the constructions illustrated, but includes all other constructions within the scope of the invention asdefined by the claims. V

WVhat'is claimed is:

1. .In a steam condenser, a tube tank 'consisting of a continuous shallow belt of tubes being arrangedin folds providing contracting steam spaces on the inlet sides of the folds and expanding air spaces on the exit sides of the folds and an air outlet Within the belt of tubes and communicating with said expanding air spaces.

2. In a steam condenser, a tube bank consisting of a continuous shallow belt of tubes being arranged in folds providing contracting steam spaces on the inlet sides of the folds and expanding air spaces on, the exit sides of the folds and an air outlet Within the belt of tubes and communicating with said air spaces, a hot well for receiving conden isate, and a length of said continuous tube belt extending between said air outlet and hot well.

3. In a steam condenser, a tube bank conmy hand.

sisting of a continuous shallow belt of tubes enclosing the air outlet andsurrounded by a steam space, said belt of tubes being ar ranged in folds providing contracting steam to provide a space for passage of steam from.

said steam space to the hot well. 7 In, testimony whereof, I have hereunto set CHARLES E. LUCKE. Y 

